Hanger and binder unit

ABSTRACT

A combination hanger and binder unit is provided wherein a sheaf of paper or the like can be bound together in a neat, permanent binder and wherein hangers are provided at the spine of the binder so that if one desires, the bound volume can be hung in an ordinary file drawer. The hangers can easily be added to existing plastic bindings and when not in use retract so that they do not interfere with normal use or storage of the volume.

United States Patent [191 Giulie Apr. 2, 1974 i 1 HANGER AND BINDER UNIT [76] Inventor: Joseph D. Giulie, 1015 Corporation Way, Palo Alto, Calif. 94303 22 Filed: Sept. 21, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 291,090

[52] US. Cl. 312/184 51 Int. Cl. A47b 63/00, B42f 15/00 [58] Field of Search 312/184; 211/46; 248/257 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,101 7/1905 Campbell 248/257 1,001,254 8/1911 Daum 248/257 1,026,652 5/1912 Bradley 248/257 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3/1968 Great Britain 312/184 Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert G. Slick [57] ABSTRACT A combination hanger and binder unit is provided wherein a sheaf of paper or the like can be bound together in a neat, permanent binder and wherein hangers are provided at the spine of the binder so that if one desires, the bound volume can be hung in an ordinary file drawer. The hangers can easily be added to existing plastic bindings and when not in use retract so that they do not interfere with normal use or storage of the volume.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures HANGER AND BINDER UNIT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is known to provide plastic binders for reports, catalogs and the like which can be easily applied to a sheaf of papers to provide a neat volume. Such plastic binders are well known in the art and are sometimes sold under the tradename of Poly Binders.

In accordance with the present invention, a simple addition is provided for such binders which consists of a pair of hook-like members which can be extended from the ends of the spine of the binder so that such bound volumes can easily be hung in an ordinary file drawer. When not in use, the hangers of the present invention can be easily retracted so that they do not interfere with the ordinary use of the volume nor do they increase its size.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the hanger member has bent-up ridges on each side thereof which ride in the hinge creases of the binder to strengthen it and make it stiffer. They also act as a guide for the hanger unit.

Preferably the hanger of the present invention includes a depending grip member which lies flush with the volume and which enables one to easily push the hanger out. The grip member also serves as a stop to prevent the hanger from coming completely out of the binder.

Various other features of the invention will be brought out in a detailed description which follows:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Plastic bindings, sometimes sold under the tradename Poly Binders, are well known to those skilled in the art and will thus be described only briefly. The binding unit includes a plastic backing member generally designated 6 which consists of a spine 8 to which are connected two side members 10 and 12. At the junction of the spine with each of the side members the plastic is recessed as at 14 so that the spine and the two side members are of relatively heavy plastic and are connected to each other by relatively thin sections at the recesses 14, forming a living hinge between three members. Although these have been described as three members it will be understood that normally such binding members are formed from a single piece of plastic. The side member 10 has male fittings 16 formed thereon while the side member 12 has mating female fasteners 18 formed thereon. In usual practice there are three such fastening members although more or less could be employed. To use the binder, one takes a prepunched sheaf of papers 20, places it over the members 18 and then pushes the members 16 into engagement therewith. Normally, friction between the members 16 and 18 is sufficient to hold the volume together and the binding members can be readily disengaged for reuse, adding more pages or the like. The structure thus far described is known to those skilled in the art and does not form a part of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, a hanger unit for binders of the type described is provided which can be retracted so that it does not interfere with the use of the volume yet enables the volume to be hung in an ordinary file cabinet merely by extending the hangers. Each of the hanger units, as is best seen in FIG. 3, is generally designated 21 and consists of a single piece of plastic which is formed with a back member 22 having a first tab 24 fonned at one end thereof and forming a bent-over continuation of the back 22 and a second tab 26 which extends downwardly from one side and near the opposite end of the back 22. Extending upwardly at an angle of about 45 from back member 22 are the edge members 28 and'30.

The hanger unit is installed in the binder as shown with the back member 22 against the spine 8 while the tab 24 lies normally between the side members 10 and 12 and the second tab 26 extends beyond the edge of one of the side members 10 or 12. The edge members 28 and 30 ride in the grooves 14 so that the hanger unit of the present invention not only provides a hanging means but also strengthens and stiffens the binder itself. Tab 26 normally extends downwardly beyond the edge member 12, as is best seen in FIGS 1 and 2, so that it can easily be grasped by the finger and pushed from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 to extend the hanger unit. At the same time, as the hanger unit is pushed outwardly, tab 26 engages one of the fastening pins 18 so that it will not pull completely out of the binder. At the opposite end of the binder a similar pull-out unit is provided but since this is a mirror image of the pull-out unit described, it is not described in detail.

In FIG. 5 there is shown an alternate embodiment of the hanger member and the tab 26 is replaced by a relatively long tab 32 having an elongated slot 34 therein, the slot fitting over the pin 18 and providing a captive hanger unit which is limited in its movement in both directions. Also, this illustrates the fact that it is not necessary for the tab 26 to extend below the sides of the binder unit but one can extend and retract the hanger 21 merely by pulling or pushing on tab 24.

' Many variations of the structures described will be obvious to those skilled in the art. For instance, Tab 24 may be eliminated in some applications.

I claim:

1. A combined hanger and binder unit for a sheaf of papers wherein the binder unit comprises a plastic member having a spine adapted to lie along one side of a sheaf of paper and side members extending from said spine on each side thereof and at right angles thereto and extending over the edges of said sheaf of papers with holding pins extending from one side member to the other and through holes in said sheaf of papers, holding them in bound relationship and grooves extending the length of said binder unit between said spine and each of said side members, said side member extending a short distance beyond the edges of. the sheaf of papers, wherein the improvement comprises .a

sliding member having a flat portion lying between the edge of said sheaf of papers and said spine and having edge members extending outwardly from said flat portion at angles of about 45", said edge members riding in said grooves, single thin end tab on said sliding member, said tab normally lying between said edge members, said sliding member being slideably moveable from a first position wherein said tab lies between said end members and does notextend substantially beyond the edge of said sheaf of papers and a second position wherein said hanger is slid outwardly whereby the the hanger. 

1. A combined hanger and binder unit for a sheaf of papers wherein the binder unit comprises a plastic member having a spine adapted to lie along one side of a sheaf of paper and side members extending from said spine on each side thereof and at right angles thereto and extending over the edges of said sheaf of papers with holding pins extending from one side member to the other and through holes in said sheaf of papers, holding them in bound relationship and grooves extending the length of said binder unit between said spine and each of said side members, said side member extending a short distance beyond the edges of the sheaf of papers, wherein the improvement comprises a sliding member having a flat portion lying between the edge of said sheaf of papers and said spine and having edge members extending outwardly from said flat portion at angles of about 45*, said edge members riding in said grooves, single thin end tab on said sliding member, said tab normally lying between said edge members, said sliding member being slideably moveable from a first position wherein said tab lies between said end members and does not extend substantially beyond the edge of said sheaf of papers and a second position wherein said hanger is slid outwardly whereby the bound volume can be hung over the edge of a file drawer or the like.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the hanger has a side tab extending along one of the side members, said side tab being adapted to engage one of said pins when the tab is extended to prevent the hanger from being pulled completely out of the hanger, said side tab extending beyond the edge of one of said side members whereby the tab can be engaged by a finger to extend the hanger. 